Childhood is about fairytales, dolls, toys, birthday parties,and a very cushioned and protective life. Everything seems stable and at its own place.The world is small but full of charm and innocence. This world is not less than a wonderland in which prince/princess, obedient animals, beautiful houses and friends exist.

Their utopian world is without worries, problems, and insecurities. Every child wants to have all these priceless moments however some children are not that fortunate, the world is not so bright and full of life for them. They live in darkness, where poverty, exploitation, unnecessary burdens and insecurities prevail.

In place of fairies there is a dark world of employer, instead of good bedtime stories there is a responsibility of job to be done next day and a fear of instructors rules the mind.

A fear of beaten up, getting scolded they have never tasted the charm and happiness of home and world. Where the only thing is money as a reward after job and other thing is instruction of boss. They are the victims of social malpractices called child labor.

No child wants to be part of this dark world but expectations of poor parents to contribute in the household income ruins their childhood. Starvation and human trafficking is the main cause of child labor.In case of poverty, parents sell their children to become slaves. Corrupt and illegal practices in society grab the children to do work for them as children can easily be dominated and are ignorant. Generally, girls, ethnic minorities, tribal people are victims of exploitation. The global trends fall in three categories:

  • Firstly economically weak parents consider child as earning member. More the children more is the earning of household
  • Secondly,people trap these young minds into illicit activities
  • And, finally children are forced to drop the schools because parents can’t afford education.

Illegal practices spreading across African and Asian countries are the main cause of child labor. Recently, an earthquake hit the Nepal villages and towns and many children became orphan in the tragedy and as result human trafficking increased in these and nearby regions.

Keeping eyes closed and ignoring the blunt reality is not an answer to this malign practice. Are they not children? Does they don’t deserve any childhood? What’s their fault? Does giving a better childhood to our progeny is so difficult that we can put our future at stake. And, all this for just meagre sum of money.

Being common people we all can overcome this global issue of child labor. School education of poor children can be funded, free medical check-ups can be arranged, distribute educational books and toys, train them to specific skillset, etc. These children also deserve good life, education, dreams and better living conditions. They are souls with aspirations and ambitions. They don’t want to loose their identity in corrupt and illegal practices. Society should think on these lines and should contribute in giving basic needs of childhood.

School and educational institutions should take social initiatives to uplift these children and it’s great to see that Kartavya, an NGO run by Sharda University is doing their part in every possible manner.